Fair Bluff tackling problem of dogs at large

Fair Bluff has dog ordinances, but Town Manager Al Leonard explained they haven’t been updated in decades.

Kathy Howell said dogs damaged heating, air conditioning and plumbing systems under the house, requiring more than $2,000 in repairs.

FAIR BLUFF, NC (WECT) -

Town leaders in Fair Bluff are working to
strengthen animal control ordinances to combat the problem of as many as 75 dogs
roaming at large.

Kathy
Howell, who lives just outside town limits, said a group of dogs showed up at
her house three times.

On
one occasion, the dogs damaged heating, air conditioning and plumbing systems
under the house, requiring more than $2,000 in repairs, Howell said.

"There is a bit of a problem with dogs on the loose, dogs attacking other
people's dogs," said Police Chief Darrell Trivett. "We had a guy mowing his
grass the other day, and a guy's pit bull that wasn't on a leash tried to attack
him."

Fair
Bluff has dog ordinances, but Town Manager Al Leonard explained they haven't
been updated in decades. Law enforcement officers don't think the language is
adequate to convict offenders, he said.

A
lack of resources in the small town also creates a problem. Leonard explained the
town can't afford to hire a dog catcher, and only one police officer and two
public works employees are on duty each weekday.

Columbus
County Animal Control Director Rossie Hayes faces similar constraints.

"I'll
help them anyway I can, but I just don't have the manpower to go through town and
just pick up stray animals," Hayes said, explaining his department can pick up
animals from a holding pen in Fair Bluff.

Fair
Bluff town council is working to update the animal ordinances and will seek
input during a public hearing in June, according to Leonard.